Oakland Raiders in Good Shape After Huge Win

4 of 11

Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) cannot catch a pass while Oakland Raiders safety Reggie Nelson (27) hits him. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Veteran Safety Waking up

The Raiders signed free safety Reggie Nelson in free agency in hopes of tightening up the secondary. They just lost legend Charles Woodson, who manned the position the last few years. So they needed to bring someone in to replace him.

You don’t really replace a Charles Woodson but someone has to play the position. And since Nelson led the NFL with eight INTs in 2015, he was a good candidate. But his stint in Raider Nation didn’t get off to a very good start at all.

In those first two games, he was just as responsible as cornerback Sean Smith was for all those deep balls. Against the Atlanta Falcons Smith took the outside position, expecting help inside but didn’t get it. Nelson attributed that to communication problems and promised to fix it.

And with Joseph in the lineup, the problems were fixed and Nelson got his first INT as a Raider. Then against the Ravens, he helped seal the victory with a hit on receiver Kamar Aiken on fourth down. Nelson looks like he’s awake and ready to play now.

Home/NFL Draft News